Centre asked to stabilise cotton price

LAHORE: Addressing what they call urgent cotton price concerns, provincial ministers have advocated for federal government’s intervention to stabilise market and support farmers.

Speaking here Monday at a press meet, provincial caretaker Minister for Information and Culture Amir Mir emphasised the pivotal role of the cotton crop in Punjab's economic development and its significance in providing rural employment. While the federal government initially set the cotton price at Rs8,500 per maund and duly notified it, the lack of procurement at this fixed rate has led to a decline, with prices now hovering between Rs6,000 to Rs7,000 thousand per maund, resulting in substantial losses for farmers.

A prolonged continuation of this situation may dissuade farmers from engaging in cotton cultivation next year, he observed. The Punjab government urged the federal authorities to promptly commence cotton procurement at the agreed-upon price and fulfill their commitment.

Caretaker Agriculture Minister SM Tanveer said that 10 million people are involved in the cotton cultivation. He added that his government paid special attention to increasing area under cotton plantation. The chief minister especially held several meetings with officials concerned for enhancing cotton production in the province. Prioritising the issue of pest attack, the provincial government managed spray on 200,000 acres of cotton.

The minister said that federal government fixed the price of cotton at Rs8,500 per maund and the notification of this price was also issued by the Centre. He said the federal government was requested to fulfill the promise of stabilising cotton price.

The federal government has to take this issue seriously, he said, adding the prime minister was requested to take steps for increasing the prices of cotton as farmers were worried. The minister said that the Punjab government had done everything it could do in this matter. He also requested farmers not to sell cotton at cheap prices.